“Kirby, give me a second to bring some others up to date,” Bobby said. He then muted the cellphone before addressing JR and Rockie, “We’re dis...ussing what our agents discovered when they infiltrated the locations in Sevastopol that Rockie identified. Kirby Wallace is on the phone from DC, and Rick Acosta is on the ground in Ukraine. They don’t know who you are, so let’s keep it that way for now. If you have something to contribute to the conversation, or want to ask a question, signal me and. My great-grandmother gave me this just before she died. She told me to keep it hidden and to do the best I could for her people. I didn’t know the others were false.”“So, you are the only true Mage of your people here,” Dusty replied.Demetri looked around at the other faces in disgust. “It seems so,” he replied.“In that case, Lord Wizard Demetri, are you happy to accept me as your Overlord?”“Lord Wizard?” he asked perplexed.“Yep, I can’t have a Queen without at least two Lord Wizards if the. The click of the lock on the door cut short her thoughts. Aunt Marina came in, some kind of strict and solemn.- Well, beauties! It's time to bench for atone for sins. Who is first?Come on, lively! Commanded by Aunt Marina.Katya reluctantly got up from her bed and headed for the door. Sveta followed her on trembling legs. Leaving the bedroom in the spacious living room, Sveta saw in the middle a wide, old, wooden bench on which casually lay a long old towel and three pieces of thick rope.Nearby. Hard.The French had caused it. Kurt didn’t know a word, butits shape in Marie’s mellow alto had thrown him at thatparty. After he had looked away, after he thought he’drefused her, she’d walked up and spoken to one of hisfriends. He’d known she was asking about him by the wayher cool eyes slid over his face and body as she spoke, butwhat they said had been lost to him. Holding his drink inthe humid night air, surrounded by others but dreadfullyaware of her presence, that sudden sense of.